"If apples are the expected teen flicks, then this is definitely an orange."

I was perfectly happy to opt out on an Orange County ticket stub when it entered the theatre a few years ago, and it wasn’t like I intended to catch it on the tube either – it just came on after "South Park." But I’m sure glad it did.

Colin Hanks, yes – Tom Hanks Jr., finally gets his first big movie! I’m sure the old man is proud too, because little Hanks pulls off quite an original performance in a film that didn’t really require one, but a film that is made all the better because of it.

But he’s not the only reason Orange County is such an enjoyable experience – writer Mike White (“Freaks and Geeks,” The Good Girl, School of Rock), who also lends his acting chops to about a minute of the movie’s running time (and a very funny minute is indeed), manages to make characters that are hugely appropriate for the “teen comedy” genre, but aren’t hopelessly trapped under clichés or an absurd plot demanding they act in ways contrary to ordinary behavior.

Our protagonist Shaun (Hanks) is your typical high school senior eyeing an Ivy League university – his guidance counselor (Lily Tomlin) is so impressed with his good grades and outstanding reputation, she advises him to apply to his school of choice: Stanford, without even considering a backup. So he does. Don’t ever listen to your high school guidance counselor.

Not only does she give him less than sage advice, but she also sends Stanford the wrong transcript (one that boasts a 2.5 GPA and an SAT score ranging in the 900’s), on behalf of Shaun, thus spoiling his chances of admission.

So the rest of Orange County revolves around Shaun trying to squeeze himself into his dream college so he can then pursue his dream job: writing.

But his flaky mother (Catherine O’Hara), perpetually high brother (Jack Black), MIA father (John Lithgow), and slacker friends, make that a borderline impossible feat. Luckily, he has the support of girlfriend Ashley (Schuyler Fisk), who is a surprising character – in that she isn’t just there to look pretty and complicate the plot. She has a realistic personality: imagine that?

The predicament Shaun finds himself in is not necessarily one for the ages, but the dialogue, something usually expendable in a flick like this, is actually memorable, and so are the characters. I’m not sure if there’s enough setup for the “moral” lesson in the end, but everything up to that was more than entertaining.

If you haven’t noticed that Orange County is jam-packed with well-established, quality stars, then shame on you! I’m sure you’ll recognize their faces, though, if not their names.

And none of them seem to be going through the motions just to get in on the cameo-action or to do a favor for someone they may want to gain favor with (like the lead’s father, ahem). Every one of them is perfect and never once sidetracks Orange County with his or her star power, because they’re just that good and just that humble enough to let the younger kids take to the wheel and not be backseat drivers.

Yeah, there's a person who accidentally ingests some sort of drug (ecstasy seems to be latest one that screenwriters are obsessed with) and it's as overdone as it is funny, and I’m sure in 2002, when Orange County was first released, it was even funnier. While there are the few “let’s make a joke for the 15-year-old boys in the audience” moments like the one above, which only lower a movie’s IQ, there’s enough wit and intelligent humor in Orange County to render it a worthy rental.

If one gets too caught up in the uninspired plot or the cheap gags, they’ll miss out on some great scenes: including a hilarious one involving a very stoned Jack Black driving down the highway with Shaun. There’s actually some serious nuance going on in this scene, if you can imagine. But don’t imagine – go rent Orange County.